Complaining as a spiritual practice

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Complaining as a spiritual practice

What do these things have in common?

Phones
Spam
Fatigue
Prices
Internet
Weather
School/Work

These things are listed among the top things about which people complain.

Using complaints as a spiritual practice

Noun about which you might complain: ____(1)_____ .
What would you like instead that would satisfy you? ____(2)_____.

A mad-libs guide

If you complain about ____(1)_____ (thing about which you complain), it is because ____(1)_____ (thing about which you complain) is not something you like or want; it is not right based on your estimations of what is right

So, ____(1)_____(thing about which you complain) is alerting you to a problem you have in the world.

You don’t like ____(1)_____(thing about which you complain).

What you really want is ____(2)_____ (thing that would satisfy you).

Some questions:

1. Can you imagine an end of ____(1)_____(thing about which you complain)?

2. Can you get ____(2)_____ (thing that would satisfy you)?

3. Will complaining help end ____(1)_____ (thing about which you complain) or bring you ____(2)_____ (thing that would satisfy you)?

4. Is there something else that will cease ____(1)_____ (thing about which you complain) or result in ____(2)_____ (thing that would satisfy you)?

5. If complaining will not end ____(1)_____ (thing about which you complain) or bring about ____(2)_____ (thing that would satisfy you), then why do it?

6. No, really? What’s complaining doing for you?

Here’s an idea of what might work:

If complaining will not work, let us instead turn our attention to something that might end ____(1)_____ (thing about which you complain) and bring about ____(2)_____ (thing that would satisfy you). Brainstorm three things that might end your suffering and help you gain satisfaction?

1. _________

2. _________

3. _________

Conclusion

Complaining does has its place. Venting, blowing off steam, getting filled up by much needed love is necessary. What I’m advocating is not doing it unconsciously.
I think we are a little addicted to our suffering and complaining.
If you want to learn easy practices to increase gratitude and diminish complaints, click here.

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